Running head: WORLDVIEW

My Worldview

Rick White

Colorado Christian University

CISM 76

Professor: Terri Lind

October 20, 1998

My Worldview

What is reality? What is the source of truth? What am I? From where did I come? What will happen to me when I die? What is my purpose in life? How do I know what is right or wrong? My answers to these questions form the guidelines by which I live my life. In answering these questions, I articulate my worldview.

Sire (1997) defines a worldview as, “a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic makeup of our world” (p. 16). As this definition suggests, all people operate according to a worldview. Many people, however, do not take the time to critically consider their worldview and its implications.

I value the opportunity to examine my own presuppositions. As my education progresses during the next few years, I am sure that my assumptions will be challenged. In fact, this may be the main reason I am planning to attend Denver Seminary after receiving my Bachelor’s degree. I want to be able to defend my beliefs intelligently when I am challenged to do so.

The worldview to which I subscribe can be termed Christian theism. This worldview is God-centered. More specifically, it is centered around the God of the historic Christian faith. There are two basic presuppositions to which I subscribe, and from which I derive the remainder of my worldview. The first presupposition is that God exists. The second is that He has revealed Himself in the Bible.

These first two assumptions are not arbitrary or illogical. I believe that it is reasonable to conclude that evidence of design in the universe requires that the universe had a designer. To me, it seems illogical that an ordered and designed universe could originate spontaneously, without the aid of an intelligent designer.

I also believe that it is reasonable to accept the Bible as the primary source of God’s revelation of Himself to the human race. Although accepting this presupposition requires faith, I do not believe that it requires a blind, illogical leap of faith. For if God has enough power to merit the title, then He is able to reveal Himself in a book, and to preserve that book for thousands of years. So then, my worldview is based on the assumptions that God exists and that He has revealed Himself in the Bible. Given these assumptions, I am bound to derive the balance of my worldview from the Bible. God is the source of all reality, and He has revealed the nature of reality to the human race.

The very concept of an all-powerful God necessitates that He reveal Himself to His creation. Finite human beings could not discover an infinite, all-powerful being, unless He chose to reveal Himself. God has done this in two ways. The first source of knowledge about God is His creation. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul writes, “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (Rom 1:20). This verse presents the doctrine of general revelation, which states that creation reveals the nature of God (Sire, 1997, p. 31).

The picture of Himself that God has presented in creation comes into clearer focus in the Bible. This collection of 66 books written by approximately 40 authors over thousands of years presents a coherent, cohesive picture of the nature of God, the world, and humanity. The fact that the Bible has survived thousands of years with its message unchanged testifies to its veracity and divine inspiration.

The Bible gives me information about myself. It tells me who I am, where I have come from and where I am going. I have been created in the image of God (Gen 1:26). I am like God in that I am a thinking, self-aware person. He formed me this way in my mother’s womb (Ps 139:13). My existence began at conception (Ps 139:13).

God is the source of all truth, and therefore He is the definer of right and wrong, of good and evil. In the Bible, He communicates the standards for behavior that are acceptable to Him, and beneficial to society. If people were able to keep these standards perfectly, they would have unbroken fellowship with God and each other. Yet, the fact is that everyone falls short of these standards (Rom 3:23). When we fail to meet His standard, we are separated from God. (Isa 59:2). Our only hope at that point is that God would take steps to reconcile us to Himself. Fortunately, He is aware of our plight and has taken such steps.

As is every other member of the human race, I am so loved by God that He sacrificed His only Son so that I might have a relationship with Him (John 3:16). Since Jesus, who was sinless, suffered for my sins, I am now free to have a relationship with God. My acceptance by God is not based on my own behavior, but on Christ’s obedience. The Apostle Paul explains this when he writes. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ”(2Cor 5:21).

God created humans in His image (Gen 1:26). The fact that humans have a free will is evidence of this. Although we are not as free as God is, we are self-determining to some degree.

We can choose to enter into a relationship with God on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ, or we can choose to remain in our sin, alienated from God. This choice determines our level of fulfillment in this life and our experience after this life is over.

If people accept Christ’s sacrifice for their sin, the Bible guarantees that they will live forever with God in an atmosphere of peace and joy (1Thes 4:16-17). If, on the other hand, people choose to reject God’s message as He has presented it in the Bible and in creation, they are choosing to remain in their sinful state, separated from God. The Bible states that this rejection results in God’s judgement (John 3:18-20). The eternal state of those who reject Christ’s sacrifice is one of torment in a lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15).

For those who do not have a relationship with God, the primary mission in life is to enter into a relationship with Him and remain conscious of His presence. In his book, The Parachute Workbook and Resource Guide, Bolles (1998) states, “Your first mission here on Earth is . . . to seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom your Mission is derived” (p. 225). This is the starting point for all people. We cannot hope to discern God’s will for our future if we do not seek to enter into a relationship with Him.

Once people have accepted Christ’s sacrifice, they must look to the Bible to find the purpose for the remainder of their life on earth. There are many statements in the Bible that explain one’s purpose as a Christian. I will look at three. The Apostle Paul stated that, “ . . . we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph 2:10). Jesus said, “ . . . let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matt 5:16). Finally, the prophet Micah wrote, “ . . . the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8). These verses show that our mission as Christians is to show the world the reality of God’s existence and the nature of His character through the living of our lives. My mission is to enjoy my fellowship with God so much that others may see the reality of His presence in my life. If Christ’s life is evident in mine, He will draw people to Himself through me.

This worldview that I have embraced affects the way that I live. I view myself as one who has been truly blessed. God provided an awesome sacrifice so that I could have relationship with Him. He accepts me because of that sacrifice, and He calls me to tell others about Him. This Christ-centered worldview has helped me to determine what is important in my life. My values are direct products of my worldview.

My Values

There are five values that I consider central to my life. Grace, humor, truth, mercy, and passion are indispensable to me if I am to feel fulfilled. These are the primary qualities that I wish to be evident in my life. They are the qualities that I most appreciate in others. They are also attributes of the God who is at the center of my worldview.

Grace has been defined in Christian circles as unmerited favor. I like to clarify that definition by changing it to undeserved kindness. In my life, the primary importance of grace is that God has shown it to me. God showed His kindness to me when I didn’t deserve it. Thousands of years before I was born, He sent His son to pay for my mistakes. Then, when I was living a life that was alienated from Him, He drew me to Himself by His love. I had nothing to offer Him, yet He wanted to bless me and have a relationship with me. This is the essence of grace. It is kindness shown to the undeserving. I have required God’s grace ever since I entered into a relationship with Him, for I continue to fail Him on a regular basis. Yet, He is always kind and compassionate toward me. If my relationship to God could be compared to a living organism, then grace is the lifeblood that sustains that relationship. It is not dependant on me, but on God’s kindness.

I have a strong desire to be gracious to others in the same way that God is gracious to me. I do not want to be a person that demands retribution and holds grudges. I know that when I am a forgiving person, I am acting like my Father in heaven. It is against my natural tendencies for me to lean toward grace and forgiveness. I come from a large, Italian family whose members have perfected the art of holding grudges. Yet, I find that when I trust God and focus on His grace in my life, He gives me the ability to forgive others.

As a father, I try to instill this quality in my children. I am always telling them to “let it slide” when they are wronged by each other. I want them to realize that God does that for them. If I can raise children that are quick to forgive others, I will have accomplished something great. Yet, I realize that, if that is to happen, it will be less a result of my efforts as a father, and more a result of God’s grace being displayed in all of our lives. In reality, grace starts and ends with God.

Humor is a very important part of my life. The Bible says that, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov. 17:22). I love to laugh. I love to make people laugh. Laughter is powerful. It helps us to put things into perspective. It helps us not to take ourselves too seriously. It breaks down barriers between people. It eases tension. It makes life more enjoyable. I believe that I have been given a gift of humor from God. He has given me opportunities to use that gift to lighten people’s sorrows. It is one of the most fulfilling activities in my life.

I believe that truth is extremely valuable. I have often been heard using the phrase, “What you and I believe about the truth doesn’t change the truth.”. Obviously, I see truth as objective. I believe that God is the source of truth and that it is His will that we know truth (John 8:32). This belief has caused me to pursue the study of Christian doctrine. I want to understand the truths of the Christian faith and I want to be able to defend those truths when confronted with aberrant or heretical interpretations.

Another value that I hold dearly is mercy. Mercy is similar to grace, but I see a distinction. Grace involves the canceling of a debt. Grace involves forgiveness. Certainly, the word mercy can apply to these concepts. Yet, I use mercy, here, to mean kindness to the less-fortunate.

Helping people in their time of need is extremely fulfilling. As with grace, the concept of mercy originates with God. When God causes the sun to rise for both the people who love Him and those who reject Him, He is being merciful. I wish to exhibit mercy as much as possible in my life. If I can help someone, I want to do it. If I am able to alleviate someone’s suffering, then I want to be available for that purpose. This is also an attribute that I want to develop in my children. I am blessed that they already have a natural tendency toward compassion. I hope to nurture that tendency.

In the last year, I have learned about passion in a deeply personal way. I am miserable when I am not doing the things for which I am passionate. Yet, when I am doing those things, I am empowered. I can go without sleep or food. I am driven.

Two activities for which I am very passionate are ministry and music. When I am engaged in these activities, I am happy, energetic, and fulfilled. When I neglect them, I get depressed. I have finally learned that God wants me to be involved in those things. He is the One who deposited the passion in my heart for them. When I am doing them, I am being who He created me to be. I want to encourage people to pursue their passions. I want to inspire people to discover their talents, and use them to the fullest. Life without passion is disheartening.

It is difficult to rank the importance of these values in my life. They all seem indispensable to me. Yet, since my life must start on the basis of God’s grace, I feel compelled to place grace on the top of the list. Without grace, nothing else matters.

I would rank truth as next in importance. If I don’t know the truth about God, myself, and others, I have no hope of fulfillment in this life.

Next on my list of values would be passion. I want to do those things at which I am gifted. I want to do the things that I love to do.

Humor appears fourth on the list. I want to be known as someone who can make people laugh. In a letter that was written by a former church member, I was paid one of the best compliments of my life. She said that I had shown her that it was acceptable for Christians to have fun. If I can be used by God to communicate that truth, I will be greatly fulfilled.

Last on the list of values is mercy. It appears last only because something must. I want to grow in mercy toward those less fortunate than myself. I will do this as I receive and ponder God’s mercy in my life.

It seems obvious to me that one’s values are born out of one’s worldview. In articulating my worldview, I have become more aware of the things that are important to me. I have a greater understanding of the guidelines by which I operate, and I am able to examine my life in light of these principals. I plan to consider my worldview and value system on a regular basis, so that I can keep my life focused and effective.

References

Bolles, R. (1998). The parachute workbook and resource guide. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

New Living Translation (1996). Wheaton: Tyndale House.

Sire, J. (1997) The universe next door. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.